For your viewing
pleasure, here are some photos of my 1/72 scale Academy F-89D Scorpion. The
Northrop F-89 Scorpion made aviation history by scoring a number of firsts.
It
was the first jet powered aircraft designed from the start to be an all weather
interceptor. It was the first aircraft to carry the Falcon missile
operationally, and the first to achieve a hit on an airborne target using the
Falcon missile. And finally, the Scorpion was the first aircraft to launch an
air-to-air weapon with a live atomic warhead.

Click on
images below to see larger images

Early F-89 variants carried
six 20-mm cannons. To increase the probability of a kill against Soviet
long-range nuclear bombers, the F-89D carried rockets. Other variants
carried Falcon missiles and the world's first air-to-air nuclear missile.
F-89s defended the continental United States for over 17 years, but never
fired a shot in anger. The model here depicts a USAF F-89D, 61st FIS,
Harmon AFB, Newfoundland, 1955.

About the kit: Not a
bad kit overall. This was a total OOB build. The parts fit was pretty good,
although it did require some filling and sanding in places. The nose gear was a
problem, I had to fiddle with it a lot to get it in place. Decals were a
little on the thin side but did snug down quite well. Painting was done using
Floquil Signal Red for the red areas, Model Masters Gloss Black for the black
areas, and Alclad II Aluminum for the bare metal areas.

I was pleased with
the finished model. It must be good because my wife likes it a lot; she
calls it the bright red airplane.